words and photos by Jane Briggs
I never go out on Sunday nights, but for Camera Obscura, I made an exception. Maybe I have a weakness for that familiar sounding Phil Spector-ish Ronettes beat that so many twee bands have capitalized on. Whatever the reason, I was not alone. The 9:30 Club was packed, mostly with couples, waiting to see the band perform songs off their new "My Maudlin Career" album. As was expected, Tracyanne Campbell's heartbreaking vocals were spot on all night.
The band opened the show with "My Maudlin Career," "James, and "Swan" off of their new album. The crowd stood unnaturally still during these first few songs, and did not really start swaying at all until more well-known hits, like "Teenager" and "Let's Get Out Of This Country."
I was particularly impressed by the band's live trumpeter and percussionist extraordinaire, Nigel Baillie. Interestingly, the string and horn arrangements for the band's new album were created by Bjorn of Peter, Bjorn and John.
Although the lead singer, Tracyanne Campbell, hardly spoke to the crowd during the show, she did graciously take the time to invite "Obama and Michelle" saying, "first time we bothered to invite anyone from that place."
Camera Obscura came back for an encore playing a song they had never performed live, "Lloyd, I'm Read to Be Heartbroken," which was not particularly memorable, but lovely and sweet, just like all of their other songs. They ended with a more remarkable, "Razzle Dazzle Rose," making it totally worth going out on a Sunday night.
Previously in Live DC:
- 2/9: LiveDC: Theophilus London @ 930 Club
- 2/9: Best Weekend Bets
- 2/8: LiveDC: Kathleen Edwards @ 930 Club
- 2/8: LiveDC: Thurston Moore/ Kurt Vile @ Black Cat
- 2/8: LiveDC: Thurston Moore/ Kurt Vile @ Black Cat
- 2/7: LiveDC: Demetri Martin @ Warner Theatre
- 2/7: LiveDC: Augustana/ Graffiti6 @ 930 Club
- 2/6: LiveDC: All Things Go Presents: Reptar/ Casual Curious/ Fort Lean @ Gibson Guitar Showroom
- 2/6: LiveDC: TYCHO/ Beacon @ RNR Hotel
- 2/6: LiveDC: The Kills / Jeff The Brotherhood @ 9:30 Club
God loves a cheerful giver.
It was endearing to see the lead singer put her hands in her dress pockets when it was just her and the guitarist encoring for the duet they started with. It's refreshing in a way to see someone so shy be able to draw in the affection of so many people.
They had a great sound, but the audience had about as much life in it as Terri Schiavo did AFTER the feeding tube was pulled. Although you can put partial blame on the band for treating the break between songs like being in a library.
i listen to camera obscura while taking baths a lot.
logan - i think the crowd's energy was an appropriate reflection of the mood created by camera obscura's music. add to that tracyanne's stage presence, which i adored, and you have a subdued bunch. if you wanted THAT kind of energy you should have bought tickets to PHOENIX, DAWG!!!
jane - the first song of the encore, which tracyanne said they hadn't yet played on this tour, is called "other towns and cities", FYI.
The photographs look lovely! I know you had a devil of a time getting some of those shots, as there was no barrier between the stage and audience.
Also, the song that they'd never performed live was "Other Towns and Cities."
Yeah, the crowd was subdued, but really who goes to a Camera Obscura show expecting high energy? Anyhow, well after the crowd had dispersed, Tracyanne came outside and signed autographs. That really made my night.
yeah, yeah, I realize their music is often wistful and slow, i.e. not meant to exude energy that the crowd can feed off of.
i dunno...there was just something awkward about the blanket of silence that enveloped the audience between songs. maybe it's just me?
i think the lack of stage banter makes some people feel uncomfortable, perhaps.
Thanks for the correction twee bro and RR
Somehow I mixed up the song names.
I think the entire band is uncomfortable about being so uncomfortable...
I think the band were probably subdued and uncomfortable as it was only the second gig they had played since their bass player, Gavin had to return to the UK due to a family death. They are not robots and can't just turn off their feelings when they step onto the stage or they wouldn't be the band we love.
Also, Nigel Ballie isn't palying trumpet on this tour, its a session musician.